The Singing Winds Pt. 3 is the third in Kele’s series of solo albums ‘The Elements’, which originated during lockdown. Each of the records embodies a different texture and quality, embodying the sound of the flexibility he has required throughout two years of upheaval in his personal life. In his own words, “Old ways have come to an end, and new rhythms have had to start.”
Joining the previously released ‘Hometown Edge’, which followed a debauched night in Kele’s hometown of London, new single ‘It Wasn’t Meant To Be’ documents what happens when a relationship ends due to a betrayal.
Kele explains: “Once the dust has settled there might be the intention to be a grown up and achieve closure with the other party but sometimes, even with the best will in the world you can't get past the fact that this person, who you once loved, has hurt you. It's a song about anger concealed in pleasantries.”
Earlier this summer Bloc Party performed their biggest headline show to date, celebrating 20 years of the iconic Silent Alarm at a sold out Crystal Palace Park in London. The band also wrapped up a co-headline tour with Interpol in Australia and supported Paramore, binding their status as global hitmakers.
Moving from hooky post-punk to ambitious genre mashing, and back again, Bloc Party’s artistic restlessness has served them well since the early 2000s. Led by impassioned frontman Kele Okereke, the band’s initial EPs played a pivotal role in shaping British indie rock for years to come. By the time they released their groundbreaking debut album Silent Alarm in 2005, their experimentation with electronic textures in their musical style cemented them as trailblazers. More albums, and innovation, followed with A Weekend in the City (2007), Intimacy (2008), Four (2011), Hymns (2016) and most recent record Alpha Games (2022).
Also announced today, Kele will take to the road in February 2024 for an 8-date UK headline tour. Beginning in Glasgow on 12th February, the tour will include key stops in London and Manchester. Speaking about taking his new project on the road, Kele says: “I started 'the elements' project with 'The Waves' in lockdown. It started as a test really, I had become so accustomed to working with other people for my solo records that the thought of making a record solely of my playing was something that I saw as a challenge to be conquered.
Apart from the vocals, every sound you hear on these records is made by my guitar. The very limitations of the project have become part of the aesthetic, so I’m excited to be able to finally bring these songs to a stage and bring an audience into the process. I am looking forward to finally being able to perform this music in the way it was written and intended to be heard.”
